Thank you for visiting the Greater Hartford
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO)
The American Guild of Organists was founded in 1896 as an educational and service organization and is headquartered in New York City. Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer officials at the regional, district and local levels directs the activities of
the guild. The guild is divided into nine geographical regions; the
Greater Hartford Chapter belongs
to Region I (New England) and is one of the largest and most active chapters in the region.
Click HERE to access information on our 2022 Pipe Organ Encounter (POE)
LETTER FROM THE DEAN:
We have hit the ground running in our 2021-2022 season! On September 25th, many of us gathered at St. James's Episcopal Church (West Hartford) to hear the three teenage finalists of the 24th Annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival. All three finalists were 16 years old at the time of their performance submission. It was an absolute thrill to watch these young organists masterfully perform some of the most difficult organ repertoire in existence.
Michelle Horsley, Dean
Competition finalists included Daniel Colaner, playing the organ at Faith Lutheran Church, Fairlawn, Ohio; David Kraft, playing the organ at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rochester, NY; and Mélodie Michel, playing the organ at St-Eustache, Paris, France. David Kraft won the $7,500 First Prize, Daniel Colaner the $3500 Second Prize, and Mélodie Michel the $1750 Third Prize. The David Spicer Hymn Playing Award was given to Daniel Coloner, with a prize amount of $1,500. Adjudicating their performance submissions were Katelyn Emerson, Simon Thomas Jacobs, and Julian Wachner. After the prizes were announced, attendees celebrated their performances over lunch, catered by Café Louise.
SEPTEMBER 2021
25 September, Saturday
10:00am-12:00pm
• Livestream of Biennial High School Division Competition of 24th Annual Albert
• Schweitzer organ Festival Hartford
12:00pm
• Joint luncheon GH-AGO and ASOF Hartford
• at St. James Episcopal Church (West Hartford), catered by Café Louise
3:00pm
• David Hurd, Organist (Jolidon Concert Series)
• at St. John's Episcopal Church (West Hartford)
OCTOBER 2021
15 October, Friday
7:30pm
• Chelsea Chen, Organist (Jolidon Concert
Series) at Trinity College
29 October, Friday
James Barry, Coordinator
6:15–7:00pm
• Bonfire, cider, & spooky stories and OrgelKids kit organ building
at Memorial Garden, Trinity Episcopal Church
7:00pm
• PIPESCREAMS Concert (part I)
• at Trinity Episcopal Church
7:45–8:30pm
• PIPESCREAMS Concert (part II)
• at Asylum Hill Congregational Church
NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS - POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING, 2022
Workshop: Console Introduction basics of organ maintenance, registration, etc.
Workshop: Tech Time strategies on how to record, make rehearsal tracks for choirs, create basic music videos, etc
Reading Session: An opportunity for participants to read through choral and organ scores
Location: TBD
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, You Tube Channel
In the afternoon, we opened our brand new Jolidon Concert Series at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford with a performance by David Hurd. Hurd played selections by Bach, Guilmant, and Guilain, along with his own original compositions. The concert was wonderfully well attended and also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Austin organ at St. John’s. It is thrilling to witness this new Jolidon Concert Series take off in our community and to welcome an emerging musical gem into the arts scene of Greater Hartford.
In October, we offer two other exciting events! First, on October 15th at Trinity College Chapel, we welcome concert organist Chelsea Chen to the console. This will be the second concert of the 2021-2022 Jolidon Concert Series. Admission is - as with all Jolidon Concert Series programs - free of charge. Seating at Trinity College Chapel is, however, limited to 150 people on a first-come, first-seated basis. Proof of vaccination is required and masks must be worn indoors at all times.
At the end of the month we will be hosting a totally different kind of event - the spectacle known as PIPESCREAMS. This year’s Halloween-themed organ concert is particularly special as we celebrate its 30th anniversary. We welcome attendees to arrive early at 6:15pm to the outdoor labyrinth in the memorial garden at Trinity Episcopal Church (120 Sigourney Ave, Hartford), where there will be cider and donuts as spooky stories are told around a bonfire.There will also be an Orgelkids (kit pipe organ) assembly project for children and youth who are better accommodated by hands-on activities. At 7:00pm, the costumed concert begins inside the sanctuary at Trinity Episcopal Church, where there will be many decorations and theatrical antics as performers battle over the bench. This year’s concert will also feature student organists who are funded by Jolidon scholarships! Then, around 7:40pm, there will then be a processional to Asylum Hill Congregational church (2 blocks away) for the second half of the concert. We especially encourage families, children, and youth to attend. Invite your friends! Invite your neighbors!
As it was joyously exclaimed in Where the Wild Things Are, “Let the wild rumpus start!!”
Michelle Horsley, Dean
OUR CHAPTER:
Dean: Michelle Horsley
Secretary: Robert Gilbert
Treasurer: Bob Bausmith
Registrar: John Parsons
Susan Carroll
Christopher Houlihan
Jonathan Reuning-Scherer
Chapter Chaplain
Benjamin Straley
Newsletter Editor
Scott Lamlein
Job Listing Service
Kari Miller
Substitutes
Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
19 Walden Street, West Hartford, CT 06107